The attachments industry has no greater equipment staple than the grapple. But, what makes grapples so important? This is a complete guide to finding the grapple that best supports you. Learn exactly what is a grapple, how grapple buckets work and what a grapple can do to improve your life.
What is a grapple?
A grapple is a skid steer attachment designed to efficiently carry outdoor materials. Messer features grapples used in construction, farming, landscaping, logging and all sorts of outdoor labor applications.
Attachments are necessary for caring for the wide variety of materials in the outside world. Need to clear chunks of wood or plant material? That’s why you use a grapple.
What is a grapple bucket?
A grapple bucket is typically used on hard flat surfaces. Materials are scraped into a hard bucket, producing a clean lift and sweep. The attachment securely collects debris materials, making removal a breeze.
Why do I need to use a grapple?
Using a grapple allows for more control over the land you work. Regarding farming and landscaping, you need to have control over your landscape.
A grapple differs from a typical tractor and skid steer bucket because of what it is designed to do.
What are the most wanted grapple features?
- They operate independently, which means they will go until they are snug on what they are grabbing.
- The benefit to that is, if you are grabbing a rock or log that isn’t flat across, it will grab it snuggly and it won’t be loose enough to fall out. They will open and close at the same speed, however when closing they will keep going until they are tight on the object they are grabbing.
- The hooks are made out of ½” Grade 50 plate steel, which is 30% stronger.
- They come standard with cylinder guards. (Rod end guards can be purchased separately)
- The hoses are “T” together under the center step to avoid pinch points
- All the hydraulic hoses have an abrasion-resistant sleeve covering them for added protection
- Flat Face Couplers are included
- We test all hydraulic items at full pressure before sending out to the customers, as well as ship them with oil, so they are ready to go once the customer receives them.
- All pivot points are greaseable
- All use welded cross-tube cylinders with 3500 PSI (pounds per square inch)
How do grapples help farmers?
Grapples can greatly help farming. When people think of farms, they get images of livestock, barns and Old McDonald. They don’t understand that a farm is built upon land that had to be landscaped into an area fit for working. Various skid steer attachments are sold that can help aid that need. However, grapples allow farmers to clean in bulk.
Where to buy grapples?
Grapples are available to buy throughout America, with most online sellers having farm-friendly shipping options.
Can rural homeowners use grapples?
Rural homeowners will find grapples make land maintenance a breeze. No more having to use big box store gadgets to help pick up land debris. Now, you can lift tree limbs, uprooted materials and compacted dirt. Grapples give homeowners the power to make their own decisions regarding their land instead of contracting to outside labor.
What equipment works best with grapples?
The equipment that works best with grapples is the equipment that can meet the loader capacity. Grapples can be too big or too small, depending on your skid steer.
What are the typical service requirements for a grapple?
Servicing all major equipment is a constant in life. However, grapples come with their own concerns for care and general upkeep. If you were to purchase a grapple, do you know how to store it? How often should you get it serviced?
Well, the answer to all of that is found in the grapple’s construction.
How do I mount a grapple to a tractor?
Mounting a grapple to a tractor is easy to learn. In fact, a lot of skid steers come with attachment plates to make the process even easier. But what does Messer Repair recommend to mount a grapple? We recommend contacting us to create a solution to particular need.
What can a Brush and Root Grapple do for me?
- Can be used for: Brush, Roots, Stumps, Rocks, Logs, Manure, Scrap, Poles, etc.
- Features:
- One-piece tooth design: we cut out our teeth in one piece to increase their strength. Some people will cut and weld the back edge, decreasing the strength tremendously.
- Teeth are also connected for added strength
- 6” teeth spacing
- The design of the front teeth are “jagged” so that you may pull up a root with it.
- It does not feature bolt-on sides (optional purchase) but does come with holes punched in in case the customer wants to add them in later. We choose not to include them in this design because with brush and logs, you will usually be grabbing objects longer than the bucket itself.
- Features a rock dam to keep material in bucket
- High visibility design
- Grapple jaw opening is 42”, 44” deep, 30” tall
What can a Rock Bucket Grapple do for me?
- Can be used for: Rocks, Brush, Scrap, Logs, Manure, Poles, etc.
- Features:
- One-piece tooth design: we cut out our teeth in one piece to increase their strength. Some people will cut and weld the back edge, decreasing the strength tremendously.
- Teeth are also connected together for added strength
- 3” tooth spacing
- 3/8” Grade 50 steel teeth
- Feature removable bolt-on sides to allow for extra capacity
- Includes a flat bar on the front and back to allow this attachment to double as a land leveler
- Huge benefit if you have to dig out a large rock and leave a hole, you can fill it back in
- Features a rock dam and tooth notch to keep rocks and other materials in the bucket while digging
- High visibility design
- Abrasion-resistant (AR400) steel cutting edge
- 42” grapple jaw opening, 42” deep, 30” tall
How does a manure fork grapple help farmers?
- It can be used for Manure, logs, brush, rocks, etc.
- Features:
- Uses 39” overall (34” usable) SHW German tines rated for 3,000lbs a tine
- Tines are heat-treated and made of spring steel, which will flex much more than the round shafted tines.
- Can be removed my taking off the nut at the back of the tine
- Can get different tine lengths if requested however 39” is standard
- ¼” steel formed back with 3”x3” tubing on top edge of frame
- Great for penetrating pen packs
- Front support plate strengthens the leading edge of the bucket with a self cleaning design
- Uses 39” overall (34” usable) SHW German tines rated for 3,000lbs a tine
The final breakdown of the material bucket grapple
- It can be used for Hauling dirt, sand, bedding, feed, silage, manure, brush, logs, rocks, etc.
- Features:
- An enclosed top edge, 4 runners underneath, and inside vertical supports for added strength
- ¼” material used throughout
- Removable bolt-on sides are included to allow for extra capacity
- Holes are punched on front edge to allow for an optional bolt on cutting edge (we recommend if wanting to add, to do it right away at purchase so that the bucket will be flush to the edge, not worn from use)
- 31” tall, 38” deep, 44” grapple opening
Finally, what do I need to know about grapples leading into 2024?
2024 will see the need for new and exciting efforts to revitalize farming. However, grapples will be one part of the effort.
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